Maternal and Child Health Journal
Volume 21, Issue 5, 2017, Pages 1085-1094

Sociocultural and Environmental Influences on Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs and Practices Related to Child Feeding and Weight Status (Article)

Lindsay A.C.* , Wallington S.F. , Greaney M.L. , Hasselman M.H. , Machado M.M.T. , Mezzavilla R.S. , Detro B.M.
  • a Exercise and Health Sciences Department, Harvard School of Public Health, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125, United States
  • b Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
  • c Health Studies and Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
  • d Department of Social Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • e Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
  • f Department of Social Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • g University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Background Length of residence in the United States (US), changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors, and economic and social barriers contribute to high childhood obesity rates among children from immigrant families in the US. Brazilians comprise a fast-growing immigrant population group in the US, yet little research has focused on health issues affecting Brazilian children in immigrant families. Understanding sociocultural and environmental influences on parents’ beliefs and practices related to child feeding and weight status is essential to altering obesity trends in this group. Methods Qualitative study consisting of five focus groups with a convenience sample of 29 Brazilian immigrant mothers. Results Analyses revealed that the sociocultural and environment transitions faced by Brazilian immigrant mothers’ influence their beliefs and practices related to child feeding and weight status. Additionally, acculturation emerged as a factor affecting mothers’ feeding practices and their children’s eating habits, with mothers preferring Brazilian food environments and that their children preferring American food environments. Mothers viewed themselves as being responsible for promoting and maintaining their children’s healthy eating and feeding behaviors, but changes in their social and cultural environments due to immigration and the pressures and demands of raising a family in a new country make this difficult. Conclusions Health promotion interventions to improve healthful eating and feeding practices of Brazilian children in immigrant families must account for social and cultural changes and daily life demands due to immigration as well as potential variation in the levels of acculturation between mothers and their children. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Weight status Immigrant Children Feeding practices Mothers Acculturation Brazilian

Index Keywords

information processing cultural anthropology Massachusetts human Sociological Factors social aspects and related phenomena statistics and numerical data feeding behavior ethnology procedures Humans migrant psychology Infant, Newborn Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Infant Child, Preschool newborn Mothers Healthy Diet mother adult body weight Brazil Focus Groups Culture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85007413312&doi=10.1007%2fs10995-016-2207-6&partnerID=40&md5=fac874e9ea906a678ba9b991079a16c2
DOI: 10.1007/s10995-016-2207-6
ISSN: 10927875
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English